A fortnight after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President William Ruto signed a 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), it appears the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader is walking on a tightrope.
The former premier has reportedly found himself at a crossroads as he plays a delicate balancing act between pleasing some of his close allies from Nyanza yearning for positions in the expanded government and reformists keen on full implementation of the 10-point agenda.
Caught between two extremist forces within the party, Raila has also faced a public backlash which seems to have forced him this week to change tune from his earlier determined rush to ensure his allies join the Cabinet.
Apart from widespread public condemnation, a section of opposition leaders has termed the new formation a “betrayal” of the people since the move came after the deaths of Gen Z protesters last year.
Sources confided to PD Wikendi that Raila’s close allies, like Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, Nairobi ODM branch chairman George Aladwa, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, and a host of legislators from Nyanza have exerted pressure on the ODM leader to push for an immediate Cabinet reshuffle.
Delicate balancing act
On the other hand, reformists like Siaya MP James Orengo, Secretary General Ediwn Sifuna , Deputy Party leaders Simba Arati and Senator for Vihiga County Geoffrey Osotsi have called for caution, calling on their colleagues only to join the government after the implementation of the 10 demands.
Sources say the push and pull within ODM coupled with the public backlash that has made Raila develop cold feet, has seen Raila go slow on submission of the list of names to the President for nomination.
Sources within the party had early in the week told PD Weekendi that Raila had settled on former Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya, Raphael Tuju and ODM Director of Elections Timothy Bosire and Judy Pareno to join the expanded broad-based government.
Besides appointments to the Cabinet, the ODM leader is also expected to propose names of his allies for appointment to other senior government positions.
However, some political pundits believe that Raila might have changed his mind over the decision to lobby for the Cabinet reshuffle sensing the mood on the ground and instead is now calling for the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.
The pact, described as a blend of constitutional amendments and the enforcement of existing provisions, comes against the backdrop of widespread protests by Gen Zs in 2024, who expressed frustration over high cost of living and unemployment.
The ODM leader is now demanding that President Ruto begins with the implementation of inclusivity, a principle enshrined in Article 27 that guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination.
Last Sunday, Raila was treated to a hostile reception in Gusii Stadium, Kisii County, where he had gone to watch a football match. As soon as he stood to speak, he was greeted with chants of “Raila must go!”.
The hostile reception seemingly triggered by the signing of the MoU between Raila and President Ruto at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi last week.
The ‘political marriage’ between Ruto and Raila has elicited mixed reactions among leaders across the county.
Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku has openly stated that the populace is not yet convinced that what Raila and President Ruto did was right.
“What is coming out of this accord is that the ordinary citizens are not convinced that what our party leader Raila Odinga did was the correct thing. My Kisii people are telling me that they are convinced that this is not the way to go,” said Manduku.
Manduku stated that he will only convince his people to support the deal if it guarantees equitable resource allocation.
“As a minimum, Raila must give the Gusii people one CS position and two PS positions so that we can start discussing how we can remain in this arrangement,” Manduku said.
Manduku further said as a community, they want an implementation matrix to track the deal every quarter to assess if it is helping the Gusii nation.
On her part, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina observed that a majority of Kenyans do not know whether the government is in opposition or the opposition is in government. According to Maina, a close ally of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, what is happening between Raila and President Ruto is a political arrangement to cater for the interests of the political class.
Genesis of ‘Ruto-Raila marriage’
Sensing hostility on the ground, on Tuesday Raila sought to clarify that it was President Ruto who approached him for a cooperation arrangement under the broad-based government.
Speaking during the burial of the late Kimani Waiyaki in Kiambu County, Raila recounted his political journey as a people’s representative, maintaining that he has never abandoned his course of fighting for the welfare of Kenyans.
“Watu wengi wananipigia kelele hapa na pale eti ooh, Raila alienda kwa Ruto, ametuwacha… mimi sijaenda kwa Ruto, Ruto ndio amekuja kwangu,” (Many people are blaming me for approaching Ruto but it is Ruto who approached me) said Raila while defending his move to join the current ruling regime.
Giving hint of the possible delay to name the much touted expanded government, Raila said they have given the President ample time to implement some of the MOU demands.
“Last year, we raised issues that needed to be addressed, but they can’t be solved unless leaders come together and talk. That is why, when Ruto showed concern, he came to me, and I said, ‘Let’s sit down and resolve the 10 issues we agreed on.’ We have given them time to implement these resolutions,” said Raila.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the ongoing political developments in the country say President Ruto’s close allies have reached out to Raila, assuring him that all his demands have been met, including the implementation of the NADCO report.
However, political analyst Javas Bigambo said the contents of the 10-point Agenda in the MoU, save for the first agenda item (NADCO), all fall squarely within the provisions of Article 10(2) and Article 232 of the Constitution.
“Values of good governance, public service, equitable resource sharing, and sustainable development are all preserved and sheltered by the Constitution,” said Bigambo.
Bigambo further stated that local politicians have perfected the art of modifying traditions to suit certain critical interests.
He observed that these interests are for the preservation of political parties, careers, and, to some extent, national cohesion.
“Raila has intimated that he has not brought himself into the Kenya Kwanza government to betray anyone, and that it is the president who approached him. I think that this is the least important thing because we all know that it is all about the political interests of the two leaders,” Bigambo added.
Bigambo advised the former premier to stand firm about the position he has taken because he made it in broad daylight.
